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Brussels, 28th November 2017 – The vote in ITRE strongly backs a 35% target for renewables and 40% energy efficiency in 2030, a minimal threshold for consistency with the Paris Agreement. The geothermal sector, which provides solutions for energy efficient renewable heating and cooling or power, warmly welcomes these targets allowing for a robust internal market and draw the European Union nearer to the objective of becoming leader on geothermal energy.

“The level of ambition shown by the Parliament on renewables and efficiency is good, but is only a minimum threshold to stay consistent with the Paris Agreement” says Philippe Dumas, EGEC secretary general.

It also provides investors with a better long-term perspective, needed to plan significant investments by reinforcing the Commission proposal on support schemes. Such measures are essential to maintain the dynamism of European renewable energy industries, including geothermal.

The Committee, under the impulsion of rapporteur Blanco Lopez, and with broad support, builds on the Commission proposal to deliver ambitious provisions for the heating and cooling sector, giving guidelines for an accelerated deployment of renewables in the largest segment of Europe’s energy consumption.

“For Europe to be a true climate and energy leader, the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector must be undertaken and this report provides sound basis for this”, added Philippe Dumas.

Meanwhile, the Energy Efficiency vote validated a strong ambition level, supported by robust provisions in continuing the energy savings obligations inherited from the previous version of the Directive, while still allowing the subsidy of fossil fuel appliances in the name of marginal efficiency gains – with effect of locking in fossil fuel dependency.

“But the ITRE committee did not manage to act on the issue of fossil fuel subsidies awarded to fossil appliances in the name of efficiency. It must be pointed out that a new fossil boiler locks dependency to gas, oil or coal for decades. Renewables for heating and cooling are the solution. We hope to see the Council takes this responsibility” concluded Philippe Dumas.